Aubameyang’s brace and a goal from Eddie Nketiah was sufficient for the Gunners as they beat Burnley at the Turf Moor. Being the final Premier League match-day of the season, Arsenal finished fifth just a point behind their bitter rivals Tottenham.
Ending outside the Champions League place in this manner will be hard to take for Unai Emery and his team but they still a have a chance to redeem themselves in the Europa League final. It was not the strongest first eleven for the visitors as Emery made a host of changes to the squad that started against Valencia in the midweek tie.
In the opening stages of the game, Aubameyang squandered a magnificent scoring opportunity to deny his side the lead as his close-range header hit the post following Mkhitaryan’s free-kick. After half an hour of end-to-end football, Chris Wood also struck the post from the edge of the box after a superb pass from Matthew Lowton.
Somehow it was a passive first half from both sides but Sean Dyche, the Burnley manager would have been satisfied with how the physicality of Barnes and Wood caused the Arsenal problems at the back. Whatever Emery said to his players at half-time worked as they came back a different group. Their pressing was good enough to cause the home team problems.
Barely after five minutes into the second half, Aubameyang capitalized on a mistake to give his team the much-needed lead. The Gabonese striker kept his cool on a one-on-one with Heaton to score inside the box. Arsenal’s second goal was a beauty as Aubameyang volleyed the ball past a helpless Heaton after linking well with Iwobi. This goal showed a buoyant player who is really on top of his game lately and the fans would be hoping that he can take this kind of form into the Europa League final.
The North London club’s defensive issues were exposed when Barnes pulled one back for the hosts after heading from close range. This was a reminder for Emery on the area he needs to improve on to match the top four teams next season. His team just managed to keep one away clean sheet the whole season and the fans are really desperate for improvement next season.
With less than twenty minutes to go Aubameyang had a chance to grab his first Premier League hat-trick but missed from close range. Another goal for him would have put him ahead of Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Sadio Mane in the Golden Boot race as they all finished with twenty-two goals to share the prize.
A goal from Nketiah sealed the win for the visitors in injury time and his performance after coming on as a substitute will have pleased the manager. Though he was not on the score sheet, Iwobi was real handful for the Clarets. He caused all kind of problems for Dyche’s side, grabbed two assists and could have had more if Aubameyang took all his chances.
Though not a perfect show this was a better away performance from the Gunners who have been really poor on the road in the Premier League this season. After finishing in fifth Arsenal will surely rue their missed chances in away games but now focus shifts to Baku where they will face their London counterparts in the Europa League final.
